Texas Education Code

§ 25.0823 — PERIOD OF PRAYER AND READING OF BIBLE OR OTHER RELIGIOUS TEXT

ED § 25.0823Title 2. PUBLIC EDUCATION · Part E. STUDENTS AND PARENTS · Ch. 25. ADMISSION, TRANSFER, AND ATTENDANCE · Art. C. OPERATION OF SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL ATTENDANCE

Statute text

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(a)The board of trustees of a school district or the governing body of an open-enrollment charter school that is not operated by or affiliated with a religious organization may by record vote on a resolution described by Subsection (a-1) adopt a policy requiring every campus of the district or school to provide students and employees with an opportunity to participate in a period of prayer and reading of the Bible or other religious text on each school day in accordance with this section. (a-1) A resolution to adopt a policy under Subsection (a) must read as follows: "The (insert name of school district or open-enrollment charter school) shall adopt a policy requiring every campus of (insert name of district or school) to provide a period of prayer and reading of the Bible or other religious text as provided by Section 25.0823, Education Code."

(b)A policy adopted under Subsection (a) must:

(1)prohibit a student or employee of the school district or open-enrollment charter school from being permitted to participate in the period of prayer and reading of the Bible or other religious text unless the employee or parent or guardian of the student submits to the district or school a signed consent form that includes:

(A)an acknowledgment that the student or employee has a choice as to whether to participate in the period of prayer and reading of the Bible or other religious text;

(B)a statement that the person has no objection to the student's or employee's participation in or hearing of the prayers or readings offered during the period; and

(C)an express waiver of the person's right to bring a claim under state or federal law arising out of the adoption of a policy under this section, including a claim under the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution or a related state or federal law, releasing the district or school and district or school employees from liability for those claims brought in state or federal court;

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Legislative history

Added by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 755 (S.B. 11), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2025.